Is handwriting a dying art?

With Computers, e-mails, text message and chip-and-pin technology taking over, the days of handwriting appear to be numbered

By Stuart Jeffries / THE GUARDIAN , LONDON

Thus, even as some disparage handwriting, the British government is refusing to let it become a minority interest along with other skills such as scrimshaw or horse riding. And not only the government.

In May, for instance, a UK National Handwriting Competition will take place and thousands of children's handwriting skills will be judged for legibility, flow, consistency, individuality, layout and tidiness.

Perhaps this is one of those competitions for children that does not require rote performances. Perhaps handwriting's obituary has been typed too soon. We may not be numbers after all.